Double acting spring bumpers



Mw 3M W55 mr. A. JONES DOUBLE ACTING SPRING BUMPERS Filed Jan. 3o, .195s

3 Sheets-Sheet l R O 5. m w m f fifi/ffl.

FANM Il JONES ATTORNEY' W M, E955 F. A. .JONES 2,709,523'

DOUBLE ACTING SPRING BUMPERS i Filed Jan. 50, 1953 3 Sheets-Shfeet 2 INVENTOR FEM/wr kJ-owes' ATTORNEY may 3l, 1955 F, A, JQNES 2,?@99527 DOUBLE ACTING SPRING BUMPERS Filed Jan. 50, 1953 v3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY l N VE NTOR DOUBLE ACTING SPRNG BUMPERS Frank A. Jones, Bristol, Teun., assigner to Enterprise Wheel and Car Corporation, Bristol, Va.

Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,129

8 Claims. (Cl. Z13-9) This invention relates to improvements in double acting spring bumpers of that type particularly adapted for use on mine cars and similar railway vehicles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sturdy construction formed of parts readily fabricated, the parts being so constructed and arranged that they can be conveniently assembled, disassembled or repaired by the use ot ordinary skill and conventional tools, the disassembly being accomplished by the removal of two bolts which are so positioned with respect to the structure that when removed the remaining parts of the bumper may be disassembled or assembled by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bumper and drawbar arrangement which will cushion both the butt' and draft on a common pair of springs, this arrangement inherently reducing the required number of parts f to minimum and effecting economy' of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bumper and drawbar arrangement of such construction that both the drawbar and bumper will remain usable, although one or both ot' the springs should break while in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stop to limit the travel of the springs in both bult and drat't operation, the springs being provided with a long transverse seat which will distribute the stresses due to bufr' along the inner portions of the bumper channel, thus avoiding stress concentrations which might possibly lead to premature failure of the structure, the spring seat further functioning to strengthen the bumper face to prevent cave-ins or attening.

Other objects oi' the invention will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein like char acters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the structure with the parts in position under buil forces;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the partsin the position ot' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a the parts in position under draft forces;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an end portion of a mine car with the invention attached;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing the parts in normal position;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section with the parts in the posilion of Fig. 6; and

l: ig. 8 is an exploded perspective showing the parts disassembled and in position for assembly.`

The present spring bumper assembly includes the main channel housing shown best in the exploded perspective view ot Fig. S, and embodying an upright rear wall 1 and forwardly projecting spaced horizontal upper and lower walls 2 and 3, the latter having their front edges receding laterally from their central transverse faces 4| in the usual manner as at 5 to a'lord necessary clearance between the adjacent vehicles while the latter are passing around vertical section showing the structure with Zfdb? Patented May 3l, i955 curves. The channel is provided with vertical supporting spacers 6, providing braces to maintain the horizontal walls 2 and 3 in proper spaced relation and against distortion. A horizontal plate or partition 'l' is arranged between the vertical braces d and divides the area between the horizontal walls 2 and 3 and the braces 6 into chambers, the lower chamber being slightly larger than the upper chamber and forming a spring housing as will be more clearly hereinafter described.

The upper and lower walls 2 and 3 and the partition 7 are provided medially and forwardly with registering elongated forwardly extending draft pin openings E and also with registering bolt openings 9 and 1li spaced lat orally of the draft pin opening 8 and rearwardly thereof. The lower wall 3 of the housing is provided in its upper face with fixed threaded nuts lll in which the assembly bolts l2 are threaded, these bolts locking the parts together and forming the sole securing means for the assembly.

The rear wall l of the channel housing is formed with a central opening including a rounded portion 14 and a rectangular portion l5, the latter to receive an arm 13 of the yoke i6 to permit its sliding movement therein, and the former receiving the hardened impact pin 17 carried by the yoke i6 and by means of which the draft forces are transmitted to the spring backup assembly and spacer bars.

Referring to Fig. 7, the lower arm 1d of the U-shaped yoke 'lo is shown sliding through the slot l5 and the impact pin 17 is likewise shown in assembled position with respect to the arcuate opening ifi in the rear upright Wall l of the housing. Extending along the back upper face of the upright rear wall il of the housing is the rei11 torcing bar i9 which is welded throughout its length to the outer face of the wall 1 and forms a limit stop for the inner face Ztl of the base of the yoke member 16 to regulate the forward movement of the yoke under draft.

Within the lower spring housing chamber deiined by the lower wall 3 and the partition plate 7 is positioned the spring backup assembly and spacer bar, including the spring backup plate 2i. (see Fig. 8) having forwardly extending spring guides ZZ and spacer plates 23 and 24, the latter being welded together and to the rear face of thc spring backup plate 2l. A hard metal Wear plate 25 of generally square form is secured to the under face of the spacer plate 24 and medially of its length and is adapted to overlie and engage the adjacent face of thev yoke arm 'i8 which travels therebeneath under draft movement of the parts. This assembly insures proper coaction between the associated parts and prevents canting of the backup plate 2i during the application of draft forces applied by the thrust pin i7 carried by the yoke ld, it being seen from Fig. 7 that the impact pin 17 which is of hardened steel engages the rear faces of the spacer bars 23 and 24 and applies draft forces centrally thereto and through these plates to the spring backup plate 21. The upper leg 16a of the yoke lo is confined by guide member 25a of inverted U-form, having its leg extremities 26 welded to the central top portion of wall 2 of the housing.

The bumper plate is of generally arcuate form, as best shown in Fig. 8, and includes the front vertical bumper wall 30 and rearwardly extending top and bottom anges 3:1 and 32. The bumper plate is provided with f' a spring seat member having its outer face generally arcuate as shown at 34 to snugly abut the inner face of arouse? on similar member 22 carried by the spring backup plate 2l. The rearwardly projecting horizontal walls 3l and 32 of the bumper are formed with registering aligned elongated slots 37 for association with the draw pin 32s and laterally spaced elongated registering slots 39 for association with the assembly bolts 12.

It will be seen from an inspection of the drawings that the draw pin 38 is received in the aligned openings dil in the end portions of the arms of the draft yoke lo with a snug fit so that draft forces applied to the pin 38 will act directly through the hardened pin It? against the spacer bars 23 and 2d and the backup plate 2i against the coil springs 36, these coil springs 36 acting against the spring seat 33 fixed to the inner face of the upright bumper wall Sli to thereby apply necessary draft forces through the springs to the vehicle. Under buff impact against the bumper face 3l) will be transmitted through the springs 36 against the spring backup plate 2.1 and through this backup plate 21 and the spacer bars 23 and 2d and hardened pin ll'7 against the base of the yoke 16, the limit of movement being the engagement of the draw pin against the inner walls of its guide slots. The operations are illustrated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, the former figure showing the parts in buff and the latter' in draft. ln Fig. 7 the various parts are shown in their normal position, while in Fig. 3 buff forces have been applied to the bumper face, these forces acting as heretofore mentioned against the base of the yoke 16, which is limited against rearward movement by the draw pin engaging the rear faces of the elongated slots Si. Fig. 4 with draft forces applied from the draw pin through the yoke to which it is fixed against movement in either fore or aft direction, the forces act against the springs 36 through parts i7, 23, 21d and 2l to the spring seat 33 xed to the inner face of the bumper plate 3i).

The draw pin is normally secured against removal by a pin keeper clip or strap il which is looped over the head Il?, of the draw pin 3S and is welded in position for permanent positioning, but obviously can be removed by rupture of the clip should it be necessary to disassemble or remove any of the parts. To dis-assemble the structure it is only necessary to use conventional tools to remove the bolts 12 and when these bolts are removed together with the draw pin 3d, all of the parts may be withdrawn from within the channeled housing and if necessary suitable replacement of springs or parts may be accomplished. l't will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the draft yoke lo will be removed from within the car structure upon removal of the draw pin 38. lt will be further noted that the bumper plate 3l) has its upper ilange al resting and slidable upon the partition 7 within the main housing and the end faces 43 are within the vertical braces 6, as best shown in Fig. l. lt will be noted likewise that clearance is provided for movement of the draft yoke l@ through the spring backup plate 2l, this plate being notched at 44 to receive the outer end of the lower arm of the draft yoke, and similarly the spring seat 33 is notched at l5 to permit movement of the end of the lower arm of the draft yoke therein under draft forces.

The assembly may be fixed to the end of a mine car or similar vehicle by the use of the backup plates or angles i6 and further clamped in position by means of the outer angles 47, these parts being suitably drilled for the reception of any suitable number of rivets in order that the structure be firmly secured in position. it will be noted that the clamp plates i6 and 47 extend along the sides of the car and then project inwardly and clamp therebetween the end portions of the rear upright wall l of the housing. ln actual use the unit may be simply and easily applied to any conventional car structure and rep' and replacements may be made in the eld Without utilization of special tools and equipment and simply by the expediency of removing the two bolts 12 which retain the parts against separation.

In.f

It will be noted that both legs of the draft yoke 16 are supported and guided at all times, thus insuring positive alignment of operating parts and proper application of forces centrally of the spring assembly, and that the latter assembly is so fabricated as to prevent canting of any of the parts under the rugged use to which such assemblies are subjected. lt will also be noted that the securing bolts l2 are so positioned as to function in alignment of the bumper element should one of the springs fail, permitting continued use of the structure until convenient replacement is practical. lt will be further obvious to one skilled in the art that each and every part is formed of stock material and by the most simple mechanical operations, thus avoiding the use of expensive machinery or methods, and lthat any replacement necessary will comprehend a most inexpensive outlay in both material and labor.

What l claim is:

l. ln a double acting spring bumper, a channeled housing includingan upright wall adapted to be secured to the end portion of a mine car and forwardly projecting spaced horizontal walls, a forwardly extending partition rlxcd to the upright wall and providing a lower chamber, an opening formed medially of the upright wall of the housing, a draft yoke having a vertical base portion and forwardly extending arms, the lower arm extending through the lower portion of the opening in said upright wall and being slidable on the upper face of the lower horizontal wall of the housing, an impact member carried by the base of the yoke and adapted for movement through the upper portion of the opening in the upright wall of the housing, a combined spring backup plate and spacer plates, said spacer plates normally engaging said impact member, spaced coil springs having their inner ends abutting said backup plate, an inwardly facing bumper channel member having a spring seat in its inner upright face for seating the outer ends of said coil springs, registering elongated slots formed in the upper and lower walls of the housing and in said partition, elongated slots formed in the inwardly projecting flanges of the bumper channel member and registering with the slots in the housing walls and partition, a draft pin connecting the forward portion of the arms of said yoke and movable in said registering slots, lock bolts extending through the housing walls and partition, said bumper channel having its anges slotted for receiving said lock bolts, and means for locking said draft pin in position.

2. The structure of claim l characterized in that the spring backup plate has secured thereto horizontal laminated spacer plates for receiving draft forces from said yoke.

3. The structure of claim l. characterized in that the upper face of the channeled housing is provided with a U-shape guideway for receivinfy the upper arm of the draft yoke.

4. The struc-ture of. claim l characterized in that the draft yoke has lixed thereto at its lower inner face of its base said hardened steel impact member for transmitting draft forces through the spacer plates to said backup plate.

5 The structure of claim l characterized in that the spring backup plate and spring seat are both formed with aligned notches for the passage of the lower arm of the draft yoke.

6. ln a double acting spring bumper, a channeled housing including an upright wall and forwardly extending spaced horizontal walls, a forwardly extending partition fixed to the upright wall and providing upper and lower chambers within 'the housing, an opening formed medially of the upright wall of the housinfv, a draft yoke of U-form having its base arranged vertically outside of the housing, one of its legs extending through the opening in the upright wall, the other leg of said yoke overlying the upper surface of the upper horizontal wall of the housing, a guide strap on the upper wall of the housing receiving said other leg, a draft pin extending through the extremities of the legs of the yoke member and through elongated slots in the medial portion of the housing and its partition, an inwardly facing channel-shaped bumper structure having its franges enclosing the walls of the lower chamber, said flanges having elongated slots permitting movement with respect to said draft pin, a hardened impact member carried by the base of said yoke and movable through the opening in the upright wall of the channeled housing, a spring backup plate positioned within the lower chamber, a spring seat secured to the inner face of the upright wall of the bumper channel, said spring backup plate and said seat member being formed with aligned slots for the movement of said one of the legs of said yoke, coil springs arranged between the spring backup plate and the spring seat, and a laminated structure secured to the back face of the spring backup plate and normally engaging said impact member for transmitting force from the impact member to said springs, said laminated structure including a central bottom member adapted for normal engagement with the upper face of the lower leg of said yoke.

7. in a double acting spring bumper, a channeled housing including an upright wall and forwardly extending spaced horizontal walls, a forwardly extending partition fixed to the upright wall and providing upper and lower chambers within the housing, spaced vertical plates connecting the forwardly extending spaced horizontal Walls and defining the ends of the upper and lower chambers,

an opening formed medially of the upright wall of the housing, a draft yoke of U-form having its base arranged vertically outside of the housing, one of its legs extending through the opening in the upright Wall, the other leg of said yoke overlying the upper surface of the upper horizontal wall of the housing, a guide strap on the upper wall of the housing receiving said other leg, a draft pin extending through the extremities of the legs of the yoke member and through elongated slots in the medial portion of the housing and its partition, an inwardly facing channel-shaped bumper structure having its flanges enclosing the walls of the lower chamber, the end walls of the flanges converging inwardly within the confines of said vertical plates, said anges having elongated slots permitting movement with respect to said draft pin, a hardened impact member carried by the base of said yoke and movable through the opening in the upright wall of the channeled housing, a spring backup plate positioned within the lower chamber, a spring seat secured to the inner face of the upright wall of the channel-shaped bumper, said spring backup plate and said spring seat being formed with aligned slots for the movement of one of the legs of said yoke, coil springs arranged between the spring backup plate and said spring seat, and a laminated structure secured to the back face of the spring backup plate and normally engaging said impact member for transmitting force from the impact member to said springs, said laminated structure including a central bottom member adapted for normal engagement with the upper face of the lower leg of said yoke.

3. In a double acting spring bumper, a channeled housing including an upright wall and forwardly extending spaced horizontal walls, a forwardly extending partition fixed to the upright wall and providing upper and lower chambers within the housing, an opening formed medially of the upright wall of the housing, a draft yoke of rl-form having its base arranged vertically outside of the housing, one of its legs extending through the opening in the upright wall, the other leg of said yoke overlying the upper surface of the upper horizontal wall of the housing, a guide strap on the upper wall of the housing receiving said other leg, a draft pin extending through the extremities of the legs of the yoke member and through elongated slots in the medial portion of tbe housing and its partition, an inwardly facing channel-shaped bumper structure having its iianges enclosing the walls of the lower chamber, said flanges having elongated slots permitting movement with respect to said draft pin, a hardcned impact member carried by the base of said yoke and movable through the opening in the upright wall of the channeled housing, a spring backup plate positioned within the lower chamber, a spring seat secured to the inner face of the upright wall of the channel-shaped bumper, said spring backup plate and seat member being formed with aligned slots for the movement of said one of the legs of said yoke, and coil springs arranged between the spring backup plate and the spring seat.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

